“THIS is a tough day, but when you join the game, you accept the rules.”

Those were the words from outgoing prime minister Tony Abbott after he was defeated 54-44 by Malcolm Turnbull in a party leadership vote.

The leadership spill had us talking, as did Waleed Aly, from The Project, after his address on IS and terrorism. And don’t forget when Eugenie Bouchard was asked to do a spin in her outfit in her post-match interview, and the relentless booing of Adam Goodes.

These are the funniest, most controversial, powerful and bizarre comments that got us talking this year.

JANUARY

18:“Speak English!” - Australian cricketer David Warner’s demand to Indian batsman Rohit Sharma during a heated verbal stoush.

19:“It’s kind of remarkable that somewhere in the world today, it’s highly probable that a child is being born that is going to live to 150.” - Treasurer Joe Hockey.

21:“Can you give us a twirl and tell us about your outfit?” - Australian Open presenter Ian Cohen was criticised for asking world tennis No. 7 Eugenie Bouchard to do a spin in her outfit in her post-match interview.

25:“And to Luke, my little man, you did not die in vain and will not be forgotten. You are beside me on this journey.” - Rosie Batty dedicates her Australian of the Year award to her 11-year-old son who was murdered by his father at cricket training almost one year before.

26:“We thought it was a hoax.” - Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten responds to news that Prime Minister Tony Abbott has used a “captain’s call” to knight Prince Philip.

29:“Texting, latte-sipping, keyboard warriors who frequent the tapas bars of Sydney and Melbourne.” - Nationals MP Michael McCormack gives Tony Abbott advice on who he should stop reacting to before telling him to visit a country pub.

Rosie Batty dedicated her Australian of the Year award to her 11-year-old son who was murdered by his father at cricket training almost one year before. Picture: Lachie MillardSource:News Corp Australia

FEBRUARY

2:“Submarines are the spaceships of the ocean.” - Independent Senator John Madigan.

2:“My message to the people of Australia is this is Back to Work Tuesday.” - Tony Abbott dismisses speculation about his leadership.

5:“I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am to be here. This is a moment I’ve rehearsed in my mind at least 400 times over the past, well, 400 days.” - Australian journalist Peter Greste on his return to Australia after more than a year in an Egyptian prison.

‘I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am to be here’: Peter Greste on his return to Australia after more than a year in an Egyptian prison. Picture: Britta CampionSource:News Corp Australia

MARCH

8:“We do not and have never used the Dutch sandwich.” - Microsoft’s tax chief Bill Sample denies using tax-minimisation schemes in the Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance.

12: “I’ve already signed up, when my turn comes, I go. I’m not nervous I’ve been waiting a long time.” - Reported suicide-bomber and Melbourne teenage Islamic State recruit Jake Bilardi foretelling his actions in a Twitter exchange.

16: “Their words to me were ‘something really bad is going on there’. And they said ‘it smells like death’.” - Animal Liberation Queensland investigator Hayley Cotton, who captured footage of live-baiting by greyhound racing trainers, talks about a tip-off she received about a property in Churchable.

18: “His life was taken by a worthless psychopath.” - The ex-girlfriend of murdered Sydney businessman Morgan Huxley on his convicted killer Daniel Jack Kelsall.

20: “The city was tested, it was challenged, but today is a strong reminder that we march forward.” - NSW Premier Mike Baird at the reopening of the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place three months after the deadly siege.

APRIL

22: “It was just horrific to watch, just to see your house crumble.” - Dungog resident Colleen Jones watched her house wash away in the NSW floods.

25: “Wonder if the poorly read, largely white, nationalist drinkers and gamblers pause today to consider the horror that all mankind suffered.” - SBS sports journalist Scott McIntyre was sacked for this and other controversial tweets he made on Anzac Day.

29: “They asked for mercy but there was none.” - The Chan and Sukumaran families express their grief and anger at Indonesia’s executions of the two convicted Australian drug smugglers.

29: “They were examples of the hope and transformation that can come about through reflection, rehabilitation and remorse. Their deaths at this time are senseless and unnecessary.” - Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on the executions.

6: “We brought garbage trucks because the show is garbage.” - Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali explaining his council’s protest at SBS’ Sydney headquarters against documentary series Struggle Street which looks at life in the Sydney’s western suburbs.

7: “I hope that your children, your grandchildren, your nephews and nieces never make a mistake.” - The mother of Myuran Sukumaran in a letter to Indonesian prime minister Joko Widodo.

12: “We want people to spend, we want people to have a go.” - Joe Hockey addressing media after delivering the budget.

14: “It doesn’t matter if Johnny Depp has been awarded sexiest man alive twice, it’s time Boo and Pistol bugger off home ... or we’re going to have to euthanise them.” - Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce barking about actor Johnny Depp bringing his pet dogs to Australia without going through customs checks.

21: “Nope, nope, nope.” - Tony Abbott refusing to consider resettling any of the more than 8000 Rohingya refugees who remain stranded at sea after being turned away from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

9: “The starting point for a first-home buyer is to get a good job that pays good money.” - Joe Hockey’s advice to first home buyers.

22: “The Liberals now have just justified to many Australian Muslims in the community tonight to leave and go to Syria and join ISIL because of ministers like him.” - Former terrorism suspect and convicted criminal Zaky Mallah on ABC show Q&A questioning the extent of the citizenship laws.

24: “Now, frankly, heads should roll over this.” - Tony Abbott after a replay of the controversial Q&A episode.

JULY

3: “It’s not even just that he’s a high profile person, it’s just absolutely terrible when families are torn apart in such tragic circumstances.” - SA Police Superintendent Des Bray on the death of Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh, who died from stab wounds. His son Cy was later charged with his murder.

5: “I have lost half my family in a blink of an eye, nothing will be right with the world again.” - Quinn Walsh’s emotional tribute to her father.

7: “I’m prepared to use the Hopoate tactic.” - Senator Glenn Lazarus, a former rugby league player, makes an eye-watering threat to the prime minister if he doesn’t relent on CSG exploration.

9: “What I am concerned about is your credibility as a witness.” - Commissioner Dyson Heydon accuses Bill Shorten of being non-responsive during the trade union royal commission.

9: “I think it’s part of the rite of passage for a Labor leader that in Mr Abbott’s government you get called before a royal commission.” - Bill Shorten.

20: “I just saw fins, I didn’t see the teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back.” - Three-time world surfing champion Australian Mick Fanning on fighting off a shark at the J-Bay Open.

30: “I’ve been listening to what the Australian people are saying and, no matter what anybody else has done, there’s no excuse for what I did with the helicopter.” - Bronwyn Bishop finally apologises about a $5227 luxury helicopter ride she charged to taxpayers and later repaid.

31: “So from here, if you continue to boo Adam Goodes, well, you’re a racist and you’re a bigot. And that would take this country back to the White Australia policy in 1967.” - Fremantle coach Ross Lyon speaks out against relentless booing of Adam Goodes.

AUGUST

7: “Nothing went right at all today, that’s for sure.” - Michael Clarke following Australia being bowled out for 60 on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

17: “They can investigate all they like, I’ve got nothing to hide.” - Auburn deputy mayor and controversial Sydney developer Salim Mehajer responds to critics after he blocked an entire street in the city’s inner west without authorisation for his extravagant wedding.

21: “I think signing up to speak at a Liberal party function certainly gives the impression that you might support a political party.” - Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek on royal commissioner Dyson Heydon.

24: “It’s carnage out there.” - CMC Markets chief strategist Michael McCarthy described the Australian share market after it lost $60 billion in value.

Salim Mehajer has created many headlines this year.Source:News Corp Australia

SEPTEMBER

3: “I mean, the Nazis did terrible evil but they had sufficient sense of shame to try to hide it. These people (Islamic State) boast about their evil.” - Tony Abbott on IS.

6: “Faith without action is dead. This whole journey, I’ve never felt so alive.” - Jarryd Hayne reflects on his journey to the NFL.

7: “He was roaring and then nothing. My last sound memory of him is ‘rarr’, and then it’s nothing. It’s just silence and he’s vanished.” - William Tyrrell’s mother on what happened leading up to his disappearance a year earlier.

7: “He was revered by Australians of every sort. From the cabbies who drove him to Randwick and Flemington to leaders of government and industry, even the Queen.” - Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher speak at the funeral of legendary horse trainer Bart Cummings.

15: “Ultimately, the prime minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs.” - Malcolm Turnbull announcing his challenge for the Liberal party leadership.

16: “This is a tough day, but when you join the game, you accept the rules.” - Outgoing prime minister Tony Abbott after he was defeated 54-44 by Malcolm Turnbull in a party leadership vote.

1: “Everything is on the table.” - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tells a mini-summit he will not rule in or out any economic reform.

17: “The gentlest of friends lost to an act of terror; a man, the manner of whose death stands in stark contrast to the gentle, honourable way he lived his life.” - NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione speaking at police accountant Curtis Cheng’s funeral. Mr Cheng died after Farhad Jabar, 15, shot him as he left work.

21: “Most people leave this parliament as a result of defeat, death, disillusionment or disgrace. We all have to work hard to leave with dignity.” - Joe Hockey makes his valedictory speech.

28: “There was no way they were ever going to get off that property.” - Acting Assistant Commissioner Clint Pheeney after father and son fugitives Gino and Mark Stocco were captured on a NSW farm.

NOVEMBER

3: “I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world.” - Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne hits back at her doubters following her superb ride aboard Prince of Penzance.

16: “ISIL is weak. I know it doesn’t look like that now but it’s the truth.” - Host of Network Ten’s The Project and prominent Muslim, Waleed Aly, in an address that got the world talking and has more than 30 million views online.

23: “Our community is waiting to wrap them up in our arms and show them the place where their children last were.” - Esperance Shire president Victoria Brown on the families of three Europeans who died in bushfires near Esperance in WA.

DECEMBER

17: “I am not in contact ... I read about it all in the news.” Popstar Ricki-Lee Coulter on her broken relationship with her cousins who were charged with murdering QLD man Greg Dufty over a drug debt.

Quotes of the year1:55

Other sports: Fox Sports News 500 has compiled a list of the best sporting quotes of 2015.